My eldest grandson, Nikitas, is ten. When his name was chosen I was haunted by memories of Russian leader Khruschev and his long-ago shoe-banging performance at the United Nations.
But of course those recollections meant nothing to my son and daughter-in-law, who patiently explained that their son was to be called after Nikitaras, great Nikitas, a hero of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1828).
Nikitaras, whose real name was Nikitas Stamatelopoulos, reportedly had many virtues, was sea-green incorruptible, and as a consequence died in poverty. In the prime of his life, though, he was a mighty warrior before the Lord.
Alas for modern sensibilities, however, he was nicknamed Ο Τουρκοφαγος, the eater of Turks. One example of his prowess came at the Battle of Dervenaki in July 1822, in which the Greeks were victorious; Nikitaras is supposed to have used five swords: he broke four during the savage conflict.
Thankfully, young Nikitas does not divide the world into friends and enemies, at least not so far. But he is very competitive; perhaps his name, which means invincible, influences his outlook. Athletics is his thing, particularly the long jump, but he loves all sport, and also loves to win. Like a great many of us.
So far, so satisfactory: he and his brother, who has a more relaxed attitude to the whole business of competition, have a bedroom wall liberally sprinkled with medals. But the times they are a-changing. And he's finding the process difficult.
Picture the scene. His aunt Nina recently asked Nikitas how he'd performed at the latest athletic competition. His answer to the question was a heavy sigh: Greek drama is never far away.
'Mavri imera.' A black day.
"It seems to me the child, who is all too rapidly turning into a man, is learning one of life's important lessons, perhaps not a minute too soon: renunciation comes to us all."
Nina said she was sorry to hear this, and asked the reason.
'I didn't win.'
'Well, never mind. Where did you come?'
'Second.'
'But that's excellent!'
Not excellent enough in Nikitas' view, as another heavy sigh was his reaction to Nina's praise. So she was moved to give him a burst about the Olympic spirit, the importance of simply taking part, and so on, but he was apparently not to be persuaded.
My son, in the meantime, informed me that he had been telling Nikitas regularly that he cannot expect to win all the time, that he cannot always have what he wants.
It seems to me that the child, who is all too rapidly turning into a man, is learning one of life's most important lessons, perhaps not a minute too soon: renunciation comes to us all. A Catholic friend sums the matter up by saying simply: 'God reserves the right to say NO.' And I think God usually means it.
Bertrand Russell, agnostic mathematician and philosopher, went into rather more detail in his book A Free Man's Worship.
Despite his doubts, Russell considered the acceptance of submission to power to be just, right, and 'the very gate of wisdom'. Although to the young all things desired and passionately sought are attainable, we all must learn through death, illness, poverty or the voice of duty, 'that the world was not made for us, and that, however beautiful the things we crave, Fate may nevertheless forbid them'.
We must learn to find the courage then to 'bear without repining the ruin of our hopes, to turn away our thoughts from vain regrets'.
I rather wonder what Russell would have had to say to Donald Drumpf and Hillary Clinton in their battle of wills and their passionate desire to get what they want in the shape of the US presidency.
I imagine there is plenty of vain regret ahead for one of them, as he/she faces the ruin of many hopes. Bernie Sanders, who seems to have his ego under much more control, will cope far better, in the certain knowledge that he has fought a mighty battle for ordinary Americans.
Russell might also have had a few well-chosen words to say to Australian politicians. And then there are the Greek ones ...
As for Nikitas, since the disappointment of coming second he has moved up into a higher age group, where naturally the competition against older children is much stiffer. He appears to be coping well, to collective relief. We are grateful there have been no more references to black days.
Gillian Bouras is an expatriate Australian writer who has written several books, stories and articles, many of them dealing with her experiences as an Australian woman in Greece.
Pictured: Nikitas on the track at Ancient Olympia, wearing the 'crown' his father made.